Plastics transformed lives for a long time but not our environment. Indeed, Plastic is the best material for nearly everything, it has its negative side additionally. The drawbacks of plastic usage include environmental pollution, toxic material accumulation takes years to decompose due to toxic chemicals. Thus, bio-plastics have been developed as an alternative and are believed to be more valuable to the environment. Bio-plastics are the same as plastics, but instead of non-renewable petroleum as the source, it utilizes natural sources. Recently, bio-plastic production of fish scales has been discovered; since fish scales are a renewable resource and are readily available materials. As the Fish scale comprises Chitin and chitosan; they are the potential enough to be made into plastic. Therefore, the procedure called recycling of waste becomes naturally well disposed of, economical and healthy. Likewise, it decreases the use of petroleum determined products by utilizing bio-plastics rather than plastic. For the entirety of that reason, bio-plastic utilization expanded in our life.
A British product designer, Lucy Hughes, had discovered a biodegradable plastic made from fish offcuts. She looked at the waste from a fish processing plant and took the opportunity, as she was curious about making use of things normal people throw away. After tinkering with various fish parts, she developed a plastic-like material from scales, and it is also so-called biodegradable bioplastics
Bio-plastics can generally reduce our dependence on fossil resources. There has been broad research and exposure around the damage that incurs due to traditional plastics' effects on the environment, so the fact that bio-plastics are produced from renewable resources and degradable materials means they can genuinely reduce pollution. Some of the applications for bio-plastics include packaging, civil, biomedical, electronics, automotive, etc.
Bio-plastics also have a vast application in agriculture and horticulture. Biodegradable polymers including agricultural mulches, seeding strips, and tapes, are another strong potential market. Plastic mulch films are spring; the mulch lessens evaporation and conserves moisture, builds soil temperature, and controls the weeds. Thwarts and nets produced using degradable bio-plastics are utilized to cultivate mushrooms and the covering of tree and shrub roots. Plant baskets and pots are also made out of biodegradable materials; they are ordinarily utilized in burial grounds due to their biodegradable nature, accommodation, and cost-productivity.
The cosmetics agent industry is another enormous producer of packaging for its items. A significant number of these items have a short life expectancy. Once discarded, they end up in landfills. When we consider the effect expendable items, for example, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, cotton buds, and razors, are having – it is no big surprise that brands are beginning to look towards options.
When one looks at the current market for biodegradable food packaging materials, it is still non-existent contrasted with ordinary plastics utilised in packaging, the reason being their high creation costs. Sometimes they failed to meet the expectations properties. However, there are still open doors for businesses to grow new items with explicit properties. More research is required to put these bio-plastics indirect applications for various items.
